Electromagnetic pulsator for milking-machines.



L. W. & E. J. BADGER.

ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSATOR FOR MILKYNG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1908 Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

L 1 p v w 0 1 y attoznm o wwwzooao a ,A 6,

LEE W. BADGER, AND EISWIN J. BADGER, BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO.

ELECTROIEAGN'ETIC PJLSATOR FGR MILKINGJVIACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1%, ltlllfi.

Application filed January 6, 1908. Serial No. 405,575.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Lee W. BADGER and .lfinwm J. BADGER, citizens of the United States, residing at Bellefontaine, in the county ofE-. Logan and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electromagnetic Pulsators for Millring-lviachihes; and we do declare the following to he ran, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in electromagnetic pulsatorsfor milking machines.

The object of the invention is to provide an electrically operated plunger valve adapted to work in a vacuum tube of a milking machine to intermittently break the vacuum in the milk tubes which connect with the teat cups, thereby alternately relieving the vacuum or suction and applying the same at the proper intervals and [for the proper length of time to produce the desired re-' sults. I

With this object in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a pulsalor conslrucled in accordance with the invention, and showing the plunger valve in open position Fig. IS a similar View showingthe valve in closed position; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. l is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the pulsator is connected with a milk can from which the air is exhausted, and showing the arrangement of the electric circuit and rotary switch for intermittently energizing the electro-magnet of the pulsator.

Referring more particularly to the drawions, 1 denotes the vacuum tube of a milking machine, said tube being-suitably connected with a vacuum pump or air exhausting mechanism, not shown. Connected with the vacuum tube 1, near its upper end, is a series of milk conducting tubes, 2, of which there may be any desired number, four of the same being shown in the present instance. The tubes, 2, communicate at their lower ends with combined air eidiausting and milk inlet ports, 3, formed in the vacuum tube, as shown. The upper ends of the milk tubes, 2, are connected to teat cups, 3.

To the upper end of the vacuum tube 1 is connected a single electro-magnet, l, which is provided with a tubular core, 5, the lower end of which projects below the winding of the magnet and is adapted to fitover the up per end of the vacuum tube, as shown. the vacuum tube 1, above the connection of the milk tubes, 2, is arranged an annular collar, or flange, 6, while on the upper end of the tube is formed an-annular flange, 7, in whichis formed a notch or cut-out por tion 8. In the lower end of the tubular core 5, whichfits over the flanges, 6 and 7,

is arranged a fixed locking pawl and dog, 9, said pawl being here shown and is preferably in the form of a short bar adapted to be secured to the outer side of the core, 5, adjacent to its lower end. Said bar is provided at its upper and lower ends with inwardly projecting lugs 10 which extend through the side of the core and project into the same a suitable distance. In applying the core to the upper end of the vacuum tube, the inwardly projecting ends of the lugs, 10, are brought into alinement with the notch, 8, in the upper flange, 7, on said vacuum tube, thus permitting said lugs to pass said flange, and the lower end of the core to be slipped downwardly onto the upper end of the vacuum tube until the lowermostlug 10 engages the lower flange, 4', on said vacuum tube, after which the magnet, 4, and'core, 5, are given a slight turn in one direction or the other, which will bring the upper lug 10 of the pawl 9 out of alinemont with the upper notch, 8, thereby locking the core 5 tube.

Slidably mounted in the upper end of the vacuum tube, 1, is a plunger valve, 12, said valve havin a reduced lower end adapted to fit and sllde within the upper end of the vacuum tube, said reduced end of the valve being of 'zuch length that when the valve is in its lowermost position, with the enlarged up oer end thereof resting upon the upper on of the vacuum tube the lower end of the valve will engage and close the ports, 3, formed in the tube 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. In the valve, 12, is formed a centrally disposed air passage, 13, the lower end of which communicates with a transversely disposed passage, 14-, the oponto the upper end of the vacuum ill) - for drawingthe milk without injury to the posite ends of which open through the'sides of the valve adjacent to its lower end and communicate with the ports, 3, and m1lk tubes 2, so that when. said valve is in a low-- ered or operated position, the vacuum in said milk tubes will be broken.

In the upper end of the tubular cor-e5 of the magnet is arranged a soft iron core 15, which is magnetized when the electric circuit is passed through the magnet and attracts the valve, 12, which is also preferably formed of iron, and takes the place of an ar mature. When the'valve is attracted by the core, 15, it will be drawn upwardly into the tube by gravity or the suction. in the vacuum tube, 1, this action cutting oi? the ports, 3, and the milk tubesr'rom the vacuum tube, and destroying the vacuum in-the milk tube in the manner hereinbefore described. The

core, 15, in the u'p'perportion of the magnet is provided with a longitudinally extending bore, 16, which opens to the atmosphere at its upper end and communicates with the upper end or the passage, 13, at its lower end, thus providing for the admission o'fair through the valve, 12,'to the ports, 3, and milk tubes when the valve is in its lowered position.

On the upper end of the magnet, 4, is arranged a plate, 17, to which is connected suitable straps, or. other fastening devices, by means ofwhich the magnet and the ports connected thereto are suspended in suitable position beneath the cows udder; net, a, is preferably arranged in a variab e resistance circuit, in which is also arranged a switch as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, which is operated mechanically at. any desired uniform speed, to intermittently energize and deenergize the magnet, 4, thereby causing the same to alter-- nately attract and release the valve, which will cause the pulsations of air. in the milk tubes and thereby draw the milk from the cow through said tubes and into the vacuum tube, 1.

By a proper manipulation of the switch in the electric circuit, the vacuum pressure will be admitted to and shutofi' from the milk tubes at the proper speed'and the pressure applied for the proper lengthof time cow. 7

in using the device, it is intendedto. connect two of thepulsators to each milk can vacuum tune,

The ma of air and milkpassa 'es, locking eeaaea from which the air has been exhausted, thereby providing for the milking of two cows at the same time into each can.

If desired, we may place in the upper end of the hollow core, 5, above the soft iron core, 15, a filling 18 of absorbent cotton or other suitable filtering material through which the relief air must pass before entering the passages, 16 and 13, in the core, 15, and valve, 12, thus purifying this air entering the milk tubes.

Having thus particularly described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1 In a ulsator for milking machines, a vacuum tu e, a plurality of milk conduct. ing tubes connect'edto said vacuum tube, a

plunger valve slidably mounted in the upper I endof said vacuum tube, and adapted to cut oil communication between said milk tubes and said vacuum tube, said valve having arranged therein an air conducting pas sage adapted to cominunicate with said milk tube when the valve is in a closed position, an electro-magnet having a tubular core adapted to be engaged with the upper end of said vacuum tube, and a soft iron core arran 'ed in the'upper end of said tubular core or the magnet and adaptedto :at-

tract and operatesaid valve when the magnet is energizer substantially as described.

2. Ina pulsator for milkin' machines, .a a plurality of mi k conducting tubes connected with said vacuumtube, a plunger valve slidably mounted in the upper end of said vacuum tube, and adapted to cut oil communication between said milk tubes and-said vacuum tube, said valve having arranged therein an air conducting passage adapted to communicate with said milk tube when the valve is in a closed ?.position, an electro-magnet having a tubular core projecting beyond one end of thesaurus and. adapted to be engaged with the upper end of said vacuum tube,,means to detachably secure said core onto the upper end of said tube, and a soft iron core arranged in the upper end or said magnet and adaptedto attract and release said valve when the mag net is energizedand. deilnergized, said core having formed therein a longitudinally disposed air passage adapted to admit air to the passage in said valve, substantially as de- 3. In a pulsator for milking machines, a vacuum tube having formedtherein a series flan es formed on the upper end of said in e, a p urality of milk conducting tubes connected with said vacuum tubes and communicating with the parts therein, teat cups detachably. connected to the outerends of said tubes, a

plunger valve having a reduced lower end,-

adapled to slide in tlieupper end 'ofsaidvacuum tube toopeu-and close the ports as described.

the-rein, said valve having air passages formed therein and adapted to'communicate with said ports and milk tubes when the valve is in closed position, an electro-magnet havin a tubular core projecting beyond one end ot the same and adapted to fit over the locking flanges on the upper end of said vacuum tube, a locking pawl arranged in said core and adapted to be engaged with said locking flanges, whereby said core is detachably secured to the upper end of the vacuum tube, and a soft iron core arranged in the upper end of said tubular core of the magnet to'attra'ctand operate said valve. when the magnet is energized, substantiall 4; In a pulsator for milking machines, a vacuum tube, a plurality of. milk conducting tubes connected to said vacuum tube, a plunger valve slidabl} mounted in the upper end of said vacuum tube, and adapted to cut ofi' communication between said milk tubes and said vacuum tube, said Valve having arranged therein an air conducting passage adapted to communicate with said milk tube when the valve is in a closed position, an electro-magnet-having a tubular core adapted to be engaged with the upper end of said vacuum tube, a soft iron core arranged in l the upper end of said tubular core of the magnet and adapted to attract and operate said valve when the magnet is energized, said soft iron core having a passage'therethrough, and an air filtering medium arranged in said tubular magnet core above said soft iron core, substantially as described.

5. In a pulsator for milking machines, a vacuum tube, a plurality of milk conducting tubes connected to said vacuum tube, a plunger valve slidably mounted in the upper end of said vacuum tube and adapted to cut off communication between said milk tubes and said vacuum tube, an electro-magnet having cores to receive and operate said valve, said magnet cores and valve having arranged therein air-conducting passages adapted to communicate with said milktubes when the valve is in a closed position, and means to filter the air entering said passage.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEE W. BADGER. EDWIN J. BADGER. \Vitnesses A. Tnnra MCCRACKEN, I LOREL C/I l CA N'lWELL. 

